Gastroenterology

Gastrointestinal Care in South Florida

When you’re dealing with issues impacting your digestive system, including your esophagus, stomach, colon or liver, the highly specialized gastroenterology experts at Broward Health are here to help. Regardless of whether you call South Florida home or you’re just visiting, our dedicated digestive health team is committed to partnering with you to create a treatment plan tailored just for you and your needs.

GI Conditions We Treat

Whether you’re experiencing new, uncomfortable digestive issues, or you’re trying to stay on top of your age-appropriate colonoscopies, our GI experts address the full range of digestive health and liver conditions.

Conditions Treated:

Abdominal Pain/Bloating
Appendicitis
Barrett's Esophagus
Celiac Disease
Cirrhosis of the Liver
Colorectal Cancer
Chron’s Disease
Diverticulitis
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Heartburn/Acid Reflux
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Liver Disease

GI Diagnoses You Can Count on

Rather than letting gastrointestinal distress interrupt your life, the dedicated GI experts at Broward Health are committed to helping you find the proper diagnosis, so you can experience lasting relief.

We offer a full range of noninvasive and minimally invasive diagnostic tests and procedures, including:

Capsule endoscopy
Colonoscopy
CT scans
Elastography
Endoscopic ultrasound
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)/upper endoscopy
Flexible sigmoidoscopy
Liver biopsy

Leading-Edge GI Treatments

After you have a successful diagnosis, your dedicated GI team – consisting of highly trained doctors, medical assistants and nurses – is committed to helping you feel better. That means using the least invasive treatment for your care whenever possible, including:

Biologics
Cortisone enemas
Immunomodulators
Medications

For more complex conditions, our surgery experts provide leading-edge, minimally invasive robotic procedures, which mean a faster recovery and reduced side effects while you’re healing.

Procedure Preparation

Capsule Endoscopy

Capsule endoscopy uses a tiny camera inside a pill, similar in size to a vitamin, to see the inside of your digestive tract, analyzing for problems, such as:

Gastrointestinal bleeding
Inflammation
Polyps

As the capsule travels through your digestive system, it takes thousands of pictures, which are transmitted to a recorder worn around your waist or abdomen.

Beforehand

Don’t eat anything starting 12 hours before your procedure.

During the Procedure

When you arrive at our office, we’ll place adhesives on your abdomen for the recorder or provide you with a belt so the device can be worn around your waist.

After the recorder is ready, you’ll swallow the capsule with a glass of water.

Afterwards

Once you’ve swallowed the capsule – after it’s cleared your throat, you won’t be able to feel the device anymore until you pass it – you’re free to continue your normal daily activities with minimal adjustments (for example, no heavy lifting or strenuous activities).

Don’t drink water for 2 hours after your appointment.
Wait at least 4 hours before eating a light meal.
Within 8 hours the capsule should fully pass. Once it has, remove the recorder from the capsule and follow the instructions provided for returning the device. Flush the capsule.

After we’ve received the recorder back at our offices, our GI experts will study the images and contact you with a diagnosis.

Colonoscopy

If you’re over age 45 – or you have a family history of colorectal cancer – you may be asked to complete a colonoscopy. This minimally invasive procedure allows our GI experts to use a tiny camera on the end of a small, flexible tube called a colonoscope to examine the lining of your colon and bowel for polyps or cancer. During the procedure, we may take biopsies or remove tissue for further examination.

Beforehand

There are several ways to prep for a colonoscopy.
Your care team will provide you with specific instructions based on the most appropriate prep for you and your health needs.
Follow them closely, because we won’t be able to do your procedure if your body isn’t completely ready.

During the Procedure

When you arrive at our office, you’ll have an IV placed, receive light sedation, and be taken to the exam room.
Your doctor will guide the colonoscope through your rectum and colon to the cecum, using the camera to thoroughly inspect the lining of each.
If polyps or other issues are spotted, we will remove them for further examination and sampling during the procedure using the colonoscope.

Afterwards

Following the procedure, you’ll be taken to recovery until the anesthesia has worn off. Your doctor will discuss any findings with you. Note: You must have someone available to drive you home after the colonoscopy because of the anesthesia.
About 30 minutes after your procedure, you should be able to start drinking fluids and head home with your driver.
You can resume eating and drinking as normal once you feel up to it, but we ask you to refrain from driving or making any important decisions for at least 12 hours after the colonoscopy due to the sedation.
Normal side effects for colonoscopies can include bloating, bleeding, and tenderness (if we removed any polyps or took a biopsy).
Severe side effects can include perforation or reactions to the anesthesia. If you experience any of these, contact your care team as soon as possible.

Endoscopic Ultrasound

An endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a noninvasive procedure that allows your GI care team to get high-quality digital ultrasound images of the organs in your digestive tract with an endoscope (a small, thin flexible tube with a light and camera on the end). We may suggest an EUS to check for:

Abnormalities in your digestive system organs
Cancer
Chronic pancreatitis
Nodules or polyps in the intestines

Beforehand

Don’t eat or drink anything 4-6 hours before your appointment.
Follow any instructions provided by your care team related to any prescription medications.

During the Procedure

When you arrive at our offices, you’ll receive light sedation before being taken to the exam room for your EUS, which should only last 30-90 minutes.
During the EUS, your doctor will insert the endoscope into your rectum and move the endoscope through your digestive tract, examining the problematic areas in real-time using a monitor at their side.

Afterwards

Following the procedure, you’ll be taken to recovery until the anesthesia has worn off. After which, your doctor will discuss your results with you and provide you with any images taken. Note: You must have someone available to drive you home after the EUS because of the anesthesia.
You can resume eating, drinking, and your normal daily activities once you feel up to it, but we ask you to refrain from driving or making any important decisions for at least 24 hours after the EUS due to the sedation.
If a biopsy was taken, you’ll be contacted with the results in several days, and we’ll help schedule any necessary follow-up appointments at that time.

EGD or Upper Endoscopy

If you’ve had difficulty swallowing, recurring heartburn, or non-cardiac chest pain, your doctor may suggest an EGD (also known as an upper endoscopy). The EGD uses an endoscope — a small, thin flexible tube with a light and camera on the end — to examine your esophagus, stomach, and duodenum for issues causing your recurrent symptoms.

Beforehand

Stop taking blood thinners (aspirin, ibuprofen, Coumadin, Plavix, Celebrex, etc.) 5-7 days before your EGD.
Follow any instructions provided by your care team related to any prescription medications.
Don’t eat or drink anything after midnight the day of your procedure.
If you take blood pressure or cardiac medicine, you may take it the morning of your procedure with a small sip of water.

During the Procedure

When you arrive at our offices, you’ll receive light sedation before being taken to the exam room for your EGD.
During the EGD, your doctor will insert the endoscope into your mouth and through your upper GI tract, examining the lining using a monitor in the exam room.
If polyps or other issues are spotted, we will remove them for further examination and sampling during the procedure using the endoscope.
For narrowing of the esophagus, we may use dilators to help alleviate swallowing issues.

Afterwards

Following the procedure, you’ll be taken to recovery until the anesthesia has worn off. After which, your doctor will discuss any findings with you. Note: You must have someone available to drive you home after the EGD because of the anesthesia.
About 30 minutes after your procedure, you should be able to start drinking fluids and head home with your driver.
You can resume eating and drinking as normal once you feel up to it, but we ask you to refrain from driving or making any important decisions for at least 12 hours after the EGD due to the sedation.
Normal side effects after EGD can include a sore throat and gas.
Severe side effects are rare but include bleeding or punctures to the stomach lining. If you experience either of these, contact your care team as soon as possible.

Flexible Sigmoidoscopy

Your GI care team may recommend a flexible sigmoidoscopy if you’re over 50 years old and experience the following:

Abdominal pain
Change in bowel habits
Chronic diarrhea
Rectal bleeding

The procedure is similar to a colonoscopy in that it is used to examine your large intestine or colon. The primary difference is in the tool we use (a sigmoidoscope vs. a colonoscope) and that a sigmoidoscopy doesn’t require any anesthesia or sedation prior to the exam.

Beforehand

The day before your flexible sigmoidoscopy you will need to follow a liquid diet (your care team will provide specific instructions for this).
Follow any instructions you receive related to laxatives or an enema. If you’re not fully cleared out, we won’t be able to complete your procedure as expected.
Don’t eat or drink anything after midnight the day of your procedure.
Follow any instructions provided by your care team related to any prescription medications.

During the Procedure

After checking in, you will be taken back to the exam room.
During the sigmoidoscopy, which should only last 15 minutes, you will be asked to lay on your side with your knees pulled toward your chest. Your doctor will then insert the sigmoidoscope up your rectum, examine your colon on the monitor in the room, and make the proper diagnosis. If necessary, they may take a biopsy for further testing.

Afterwards

You can resume your normal activities immediately following your procedure.
It’s normal to see small amounts of blood in your first stool after the sigmoidoscopy.
Normal side effects after flexible sigmoidoscopy include mild cramping and gas.
If you experience continued bleeding, persistent abdominal pain, or a fever of 100 degrees or higher, contact your care team immediately.

Liver Biopsy

If you’re starting to display symptoms of liver disease, your GI specialist may recommend a liver biopsy, in which we remove a small piece of your liver to closely examine for disease or damage. The biopsy can be performed in one of our offices as an outpatient setting, or in one of Broward Health’s hospital locations, depending on the severity of your symptoms. The type of biopsy you have done will impact the preparation necessary.

Percutaneous Biopsy

This is the most common type of liver biopsy. During a percutaneous biopsy, your doctor will locate your liver using ultrasound and have you lie back on the table with your right arm above your head. Local anesthetic will be applied to numb the area being examined and your doctor will make a small incision, asking you to hold your breath while they use a needle to take the sample. After they’re done, you’ll receive a few small stitches and be able to return to your normal activities over the next week, minus lifting items over 10 pounds in weight. You’ll be contacted after a few days with the diagnosis and next steps in your treatment.

Transjugular Biopsy

A transjugular biopsy is used when your care team wants to examine the hepatic vein in your liver. During the procedure, an area of your neck is numbed with local anesthetic and a small incision is made to allow a thin, plastic tube to be threaded through your jugular vein until it reaches the hepatic vein. Once there, contrasting dye is injected so the hepatic vein can be seen on X-ray, and a small needle is inserted through the tube to take the liver biopsy. After the sample has been collected, the tube is removed, and your incision is bandaged up.

Laparoscopic Biopsy

Laparoscopic biopsies require general anesthetic. Once in the operating room, small incisions are made on your abdomen so a tiny camera can be inserted, guiding your doctor and their tools to the liver to collect the biopsy. After the samples have been collected, the camera and tools are removed, and your incisions are closed with stitches. Due to the general anesthesia, you may be in recovery for up to 2 hours and will need someone to drive you home following the procedure. After about a week, you should be able to resume your normal activities, minus lifting items heavier than 10-15 pounds in weight.

Meet Your Dedicated GI Experts

Find a Doctor

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Duro, Debora, MD

Pediatric Gastroenterology, Pediatrics

Broward Health Physican Group

Esharif, Dyadin M., MD

Pediatric Gastroenterology

Broward Health Physican Group

Lewkowitz, Howard D., MD

Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine

Broward Health Physican Group

Mendez, Natasha, MD

Pediatric Gastroenterology

Broward Health Physican Group

Sharma, Aryama D., MD

Gastroenterology

Broward Health Physican Group

Agarwal, Amit K., MD

Gastroenterology

Arai, Ronen, MD

Gastroenterology

Babaian, Manuel E., MD

Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine

Bloom, John D. Jr, MD

Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine

Brinez Giraldo, Maria del Pilar, MD

Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatric Gastroenterology

Delgado, Aymin, MD

Pediatric Gastroenterology

Deutsch, Edward, MD

Gastroenterology

Diaz Urrutia, Liege I., MD

Gastroenterology

Diaz, Diego M., MD

Pediatric Gastroenterology

Dickerson, William J, MD

Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine

Elman, Jordan B., MD

Gastroenterology

Duro, Debora, MD

Pediatric Gastroenterology, Pediatrics

Broward Health Physican Group

Esharif, Dyadin M., MD

Pediatric Gastroenterology

Broward Health Physican Group

Lewkowitz, Howard D., MD

Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine

Broward Health Physican Group

Mendez, Natasha, MD

Pediatric Gastroenterology

Broward Health Physican Group

Sharma, Aryama D., MD

Gastroenterology

Broward Health Physican Group

Agarwal, Amit K., MD

Gastroenterology

Arai, Ronen, MD

Gastroenterology

Babaian, Manuel E., MD

Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine

Bloom, John D. Jr, MD

Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine

Brinez Giraldo, Maria del Pilar, MD

Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatric Gastroenterology

Delgado, Aymin, MD

Pediatric Gastroenterology

Deutsch, Edward, MD

Gastroenterology

Diaz Urrutia, Liege I., MD

Gastroenterology

Diaz, Diego M., MD

Pediatric Gastroenterology

Dickerson, William J, MD

Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine

Elman, Jordan B., MD

Gastroenterology

Duro, Debora, MD

Pediatric Gastroenterology, Pediatrics

Broward Health Physican Group

Esharif, Dyadin M., MD

Pediatric Gastroenterology

Broward Health Physican Group

Lewkowitz, Howard D., MD

Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine

Broward Health Physican Group

Mendez, Natasha, MD

Pediatric Gastroenterology

Broward Health Physican Group

Sharma, Aryama D., MD

Gastroenterology

Broward Health Physican Group

Agarwal, Amit K., MD

Gastroenterology

Arai, Ronen, MD

Gastroenterology

Babaian, Manuel E., MD

Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine

Bloom, John D. Jr, MD

Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine

Brinez Giraldo, Maria del Pilar, MD

Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatric Gastroenterology

Delgado, Aymin, MD

Pediatric Gastroenterology

Deutsch, Edward, MD

Gastroenterology

Diaz Urrutia, Liege I., MD

Gastroenterology

Diaz, Diego M., MD

Pediatric Gastroenterology

Dickerson, William J, MD

Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine

Elman, Jordan B., MD

Gastroenterology

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